Device for catching mail-bags



(No Model.)

B. M. VAN HOESEN. DEVICE FOR GATGHING MAIL BAGS.,

No. 489,276. Patented Jan. 3, 1893.

T lli WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE M. VAN HOESEN, OF PREBLE, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR CATICHING MAIL-BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,276, dated January 3, 1893. Application filed June 2'7, 1892. Serial No. 438,227. (No model.)

T 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE M. VAN Hon- SEN, of Preble, in the county of Cortland, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Catching Mail-Bags, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to devices for automatically catching mail-bags.

My objectis to produce such a device, adapted to be suitably mounted in the door-way or other opening of the car, providing it with means for easily and conveniently setting the same ready to receive the bag and adapted to be automatically tripped when it comes in engagement with the bag.

My invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claims hereuntoannexed. It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a top plan view of the device, complete, suitably mounted and showing it set, ready for the reception of the mailbag.

Fig. 2, is a similar view of the device, de-

tached, and showing it in the position it assumes after it has been tripped. Fig. 3, is an edge view of one end of the main shaft or cross bar, showing its slotway.

1, is the main shaft or cross bar rotatably mounted in suitable bearings (2 3) upon the sides of the opening in the car, (A,) and is provided with a longitudinal slotway (4i) and an operating handle (5).

6-, is a gripping arm constructed substantially as shown, pivoted at (7) preferably within the slotway.

8, is a spring interposed between the cross bar (1) and the other end of the gripping arm and being provided with suitable means for holding it in position.

9, is a cam lever pivoted within the slotway (4:), having downwardly extending arm (10) adapted to engage with the grooved edge of the gripping arm, at (11), and an arm (12) extending at substantially right angles thereto and adapted to engage with the upper part (13) of the knuckle-joint brace (B), which is hinged to the cross bar and spring arm, respectively. The upper part (13) is constructed with a lug (a) upon its inner lower end, creating a convex surface (0), with which the arm (12) engages,so as to extend the knucklejoint brace and hold the spring arms open, thereby forming a V-shaped jaw for the reception of the bag between the cross bar and the gripping arm. When the catcher is open and is sprung out horizontally by the handle (5), the bag will enter the V-shaped jaw at the knuckle-joint brace (B) and the tension produced by the compressed spring (8) interposed between thebar (l) and the other end of the gripping arm will grip the bag and hold it, until ithas been released and taken into the car.

Then it is desired to set the device for a bag, the handle (9) is thrown over to the right, that is, toward the center, the end (10) engaging With the edge of the gripping arm at (11,) forcing it outward, and the end of the arm (12) engaging with the concaved surface (0) of the upper part of the knuckle joint, forcing thejoint to the position shown in Fig. 1.

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mail-bag catcher, the combination with the cross bar, of the gripping arm journaled thereto, a knuckle joint connecting said bar and arm, of a cam lever adapted to engage with the gripping arm and the knuckle joint, as set forth.

2. The combination with the cross-bar provided with a longitudinal slot-way, and the gripping-arm pivoted therein,of the knuckle joint, one member of which is pivotally connected to said arm, and the other member of which is pivoted in said slot-way and is provided with a concaved face, and the lever (9) having an arm engaging with said concaved face.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this th day of June, 1892.

EUGENE M. VAN HOESEN.

In presence of O. B. KINNE, HOWARD P.-DENISON. 

